Viola plant named ‘Flovelwh’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Viola  plant named ‘Flovelwh’, characterized by its mounding and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; long flowering period; and large white-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Viola×williamsii.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Flovelwh’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Viola, botanically known as Viola×williamsii and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Flovelwh’.

The new Viola plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Foxley, Norfolk, United Kingdom. The objective of the breeding program was to create new outwardly spreading Viola cultivars with large flowers and attractive flower coloration.

The new Viola plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in May, 2001, in Foxley, Norfolk, United Kingdom, of a proprietary selection of Viola×williamsii identified as code number USAHHH-2, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Viola×williamsii identified as code number USJVI, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Viola was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Foxley, Norfolk, United Kingdom in May, 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new Viola plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Foxley, Norfolk, United Kingdom since September, 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Viola plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Viola have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Flovelwh’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Flovelwh’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Viola:

-   -   1. Mounding and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Long flowering period.     -   5. Large white-colored flowers.

Compared to plants of the female parent selection, plants of the new Viola differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Viola are not as open in plant habit than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Viola flower earlier than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Viola and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have blue-colored flowers.

Compared to plants of the male parent selection, plants of the new Viola differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Viola are not as compact as plants of the         male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Viola are more outwardly spreading than and         not as upright as plants of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Viola have larger flowers than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Viola and the male parent selection differ         in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have         cream-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Viola can also be compared to plants of the Viola×williamsii ‘Sunvioho’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,377. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Foxley, Norfolk, United Kingdom, plants of the new Viola and ‘Sunvioho’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Viola were more mounding than plants of         ‘Sunvioho’.     -   2. Plants of the new Viola had larger flowers than plants of         ‘Sunvioho’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Viola, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Viola.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Flovelwh’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers, flower buds and leaves of ‘Flovelwh’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Encinitas, Calif. during the winter and under commercial practice in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse with day temperatures averaging 24° C., night temperatures averaging 16° C. and light levels averaging 4,000 foot-candles. Plants had been growing for 13 weeks when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Viola×williamsii ‘Flovelwh’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Viola×williamsii identified as code number USAHHH-2, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Viola×williamsii identified as code number USJVI, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 18 to 26 days at 18° C. to 21°             C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant roots.—About 35 to 45             days at 18° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Fleshy; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/habit.—Mounding and outwardly spreading plant             habit; vigorous growth habit. Freely branching habit; about             18 lateral branches developing per plant; pinching is             typically not required.         -   Plant height.—About 13 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 40 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 27 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Internode length: About 2 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 145A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 3.6 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.6 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137A; venation, close to 138A. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C; venation,             close to 138C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 2.6 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Texture, upper surface: Minute pubescence; scattered.             Texture, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single flowers borne in upper leaf axils;             flowers face initially upright and then outwardly. Freely             flowering habit with about 130 flowers and flower buds per             plant.         -   Fragrance.—Faint; sweet violet.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering from spring             through the summer in California. Flowers not persistent.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about five days on             the plant.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: Close to 4D.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.5 cm by 3 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 2.6 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Five in a single whorl; two             upper petals, two lateral petals and one lower petal. Upper             petals: Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 2 cm. Shape:             Ovate with rounded apex and attenuate base; margin, entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety. Color: Developing petals, upper surface: Close to             4C. Developing petals, lower surface: Close to 4D. Fully             expanded petals, upper surface: Close to 2D. Fully expanded             petals, lower surface: Close to 4D. Lateral petals: Length:             About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Ovate with             rounded apex and attenuate base; margin, entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color:             Developing petals, upper surface: Close to 4C. Developing             petals, lower surface: Close to 4D. Fully expanded petals,             upper surface: Close to 2D. Fully expanded petals, lower             surface: Close to 4D. Lower petal: Length: About 2.1 cm.             Diameter: About 2.4 cm. Shape: Cordate with rounded and             retuse apex and attenuate base; margin, entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color:             Developing petals, upper surface: Close to 4C. Developing             petals, lower surface: Close to 4D. Fully expanded petals,             upper surface 155A, tinted with: Close to 2D; venation             towards base, close to 79A; central eye, close to 15A. Fully             expanded petals, lower surface: Close to 4D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 4 mm. Shape:             Elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137B to 137C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 7.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             five. Filament length: Less than 1 mm. Filament color: Close             to 145C. Anther shape: Elliptic, flat.

Anther length: About 2.5 mm.

Anther color: Close to 155A.

Pollen amount: None. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 6 mm. Stigma shape: Bulbous. Stigma color: Close to 150C. Style length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 145D. Ovary color: Close to 145D.

-   -   -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed.

-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Viola have not been noted     to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Viola.

-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Viola have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures from about 0° C. to about 30° C. 

1. A new and distinct Viola plant named ‘Flovelwh’ as illustrated and described. 